A Brunswick woman is facing several charges stemming from an incident at a hotel in Malta which injured a Saratoga County Sherriff’s Deputy.
Michaela Mariano was arrested on charges of assault, bail jumping, obstructing governmental administration and harassment. The arrest came after Deputies received a disturbance call at the Budget Inn in the Town of Malta the night of Oct. 22.
According to the Saratoga County Sherriff’s Office, the deputy sustained head and neck injuries after hitting their head on a table while trying to take Mariano into custody. At the time, Deputies allege, Mariano was resisting arrest. Mariano also attempted to punch a deputy in the face, however the Sherriff’s Office didn’t indicate whether the punch landed.
Mariano was also found to have a bench warrant for her arrest issued in June 2024 by the Clifton Park Town Court on charges of assault. Mariano was arraigned in the Malta Town Court and is currently being held in the Saratoga County Jail awaiting court proceedings.
Here is a look at the candidates running in Saratoga Springs
With Election Day right around the corner, Saratoga TODAY reached out to the candidates running in competitive races in Saratoga Springs and the surrounding areas.
Saratoga Springs has one candidate running in an uncontested election, Incumbent Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll who is endorsed by both the Republican and Democratic Parties is running for reelection.
Commissioner of Finance Candidate: Jo Ann Kiernan (R, One Saratoga)
With more than 25 years of experience in accounting and finance as a Certified Public Accountant, I bring a deep understanding of fiscal responsibility, transparency, and strategic planning. My professional background has provided me with the tools to ensure that financial decisions are made thoughtfully, sustainably, and always in the best interest of the community.
I currently serve as Deputy Mayor and previously spent nine years on the Saratoga Springs City School District Board of Education. Additionally, I have served as treasurer for both our homeowners association and the school PTSO. My husband, Todd, and I have proudly called Saratoga Springs home for 22 years, raising our two sons, Aidan and Will, in this vibrant and caring community. I am deeply grateful for all that Saratoga Springs has given us and honored to contribute to the city we love and proudly call home.
Now more than ever, our city’s finance office requires strong, experienced leadership grounded in accounting and fiscal management. Saratoga Springs is facing significant financial challenges due to a lack of long-term planning and accountability in the budgeting process. This has resulted in difficult decisions during the current budget cycle, including potential cuts to essential city services and reduced funding for not-for-profit organizations that so many residents depend on.
These organizations are the heart of our community, supporting families, assisting the homeless, feeding those in need, and providing opportunities for our youth and seniors. When funding is reduced, it’s not just programs that suffer, it’s people.
We must move beyond year-to-year budgeting and instead implement a transparent, forward-looking financial strategy that safeguards our city’s long-term stability. My top priority will be to evaluate the city’s financial position, strengthen forecasting tools, and work collaboratively with all departments to ensure a sustainable fiscal future for Saratoga Springs.
Commissioner of Finance Candidate: Shafer Gaston (D, Working families)
I am Shafer Gaston, running to be your next Commissioner of Finance. I am running on the premise that a combination of technical skills and “soft” skills is needed on the City Council. There are a number of issues that we have seen in the last few months where better stakeholder management and communications would have carried the day. We’ve seen resident confusion on paid parking. We’ve heard conflicting timelines on short-term rental legislation. And just last week, we’ve seen seniors, working families, and students get the rug pulled out from under them by cancelling bus routes. Changes shouldn’t catch our residents by surprise, yet we are failing to identify who the stakeholders are and how best to reach them and bring them into the conversation.
As a project management professional, as well as a former Naval officer and engineering manager, I have years of experience getting everyone on the same page and making sure they walk away feeling heard and enfranchised. No one will get everything that they want, but they will understand why the City made the choice that it did. The trick is to talk to people before the decision rather than trying to walk it back after the damage is done.
I want to keep Saratoga Springs on a successful track and to do that we need to update our land use plans for the 21st century, plan our capital improvements such as the police station and the DPW garage in an integrated fashion that will keep our debt low, and most importantly improve our communication with residents. This will create a positive cultural and economic environment that will provide the quality of life at affordable prices our residents have come to expect. A vote for me is a vote for these objectives.
Incumbent Candidate for Commissioner of Public Works: Chuck Marshall (R, One Saratoga)
When I began serving as Commissioner of Public Works, I pledged to uphold the integrity of the office and work as hard as possible to improve the quality of life here in our great City. I have delivered on the campaign promises I made and have done so with a deep appreciation of the trust you have given me. While there has been a great deal of turnover of the DPW seat in recent years, I believe my re-election will allow for much needed consistency and stability within the Public Works Department.
I am the first DPW Commissioner who has served holding an Engineering Degree and Master’s Degree in Public Administration. In addition to my formal education, I also have private sector experience as the Director of Real Estate for Stewart’s Shops. In this capacity, I’ve participated in over 500 municipal and regulatory meetings along with frequently presenting at relevant conferences. My technical expertise and on-the-job experience allow me to work across the table with my fellow Council members to get things done.
Serving as DPW Commissioner requires balancing the needs of the department with the needs of our community. The City of Saratoga Springs is upstate New York’s treasure and it’s our job to ensure it maintains that status.
During my first term as Commissioner, we’ve implemented quality of life changes such as creating a first-ever leaf pickup schedule, beginning the process of relocating the DPW garage out of a residential neighborhood, improving our sewer and water infrastructure, and bringing in new development such as Treehouse and Chipotle.
While we’ve accomplished much in a short period of time, there’s still much to do. With early voting already underway, I humbly request your vote to continue as your Commissioner of Public Works, and to serve you and this great City.
Candidate for Commissioner of Public Works: BK Keramati (D)
The ultimate responsibility of public officials is to improve our city for the benefit of our citizens. We have had enough condos that cater to the well-off; we need more affordable housing, better sidewalks and safer streets so our children can prosper here and grow their families here.
The most urgent issue facing our city is water. The primary source of our water, Loughberry Lake, is degrading significantly in quality and quantity. This has been going on for years. Our Department of Public Works has the sole responsibility for assuring that we have a safe and plentiful supply of water. But it has failed to inform us of how critical this situation is and what we should be doing about it. We are being told that RFPs (request for proposals) have been issued to find new water! Apparently, things are happening out of the public eye. This is not acceptable.
In addition, our water infrastructure is in serious need for upgrade, a fact that DPW has not adequately addressed for over 20 years. To me, this is not acceptable either.
So, before you vote, I urge you to think about two things:
1. WATER. How important is water in your lives? And how important is it for Saratoga Springs to have a reliable, safe, and plentiful supply for years to come?
2. TRUST. Please take a look at the candidates and just ask: who is funding their campaigns? Who are they beholden to?
Two thirds of my opponent’s campaign fund come from businesses, not real people. My supporters are all real people just like you. I am beholden to you, and only you.
And if I am elected Commissioner, I will work hard to bring civility and respect to City Council proceedings.
Incumbent Candidate for Commissioner of Accounts: Dillon Moran (D, Working Families)
From his campaign website – Dillon Moran has served as Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Accounts since January 2022. Under his leadership, the office has been modernized and his work has brought a vibrancy back to the city that we haven’t seen in a long time.
With a chemical engineering degree from Clarkson University, Dillon has over 30 years of business experience managing money, people and projects. He is also a partner in several successful local businesses that have contributed significantly to the success of our local economy. Dillon has taken on new challenges without reservation and has created innovative approaches to the issues facing our city.
Dillon’s experience in risk assessment, management and mitigation skills have helped the city tremendously during his tenure. Dillon wants to continue to serve you, the taxpayers and residents of Saratoga Springs, to continue making the city we call home the best it can be.
Candidate for Commissioner of Accounts: Jessica Troisi (R, One Saratoga)
I was drawn to Saratoga Springs 32 years ago by the charm of our city, the strength of our community, and the idea of a good life for my family. I’m now running for Commissioner of Accounts because I believe our city deserves leadership that reflects those same values and leads with integrity, accountability, and civility.
The Commissioner of Accounts plays a crucial role in city operations. This office should be a model of transparency, efficiency, and ethical leadership. Recent years have brought controversy, costly lawsuits, and a breakdown of public trust. I believe we can do better — and I’m committed to proving that with action, not rhetoric.
I’ll work respectfully with every member of our city council and every resident, regardless of party, because good government begins with listening — and it succeeds through collaboration.
I hope to earn your trust, your support, and your vote on election day. Let’s move forward together.
Candidate for Mayor: Michele Madigan (D)
Serving as the City’s Finance Commissioner for a decade, I delivered results you can see — stable or reduced property taxes, millions saved through smart refinancing, creation of the Spa Solar Park that now offsets nearly 40% of the City’s electricity costs, and conversion of every streetlight to energy-efficient LED. I set aside city-owned parcels to build three affordable homes downtown with Habitat for Humanity and partnered with New York State Parks and Recreation to fence and improve the City Dog Park for neighborhood families and their pets. As your current County Supervisor, I worked across party lines to finally secure a permanent location for our Code Blue Shelter — something our community had needed for years.
As Mayor, I’ll continue addressing homelessness with compassion and accountability by working closely with RISE and the Outreach Homeless Court, which are making real progress in connecting people with services, treatment, and stability. I’ll also focus on everyday quality-of-life issues: addressing truck traffic through our downtown and historic neighborhoods, enforcing parking and delivery rules to stop double parking, and making Broadway safer, cleaner, and more pedestrian-friendly.
We must also modernize our building and planning departments, expand affordable and workforce housing, and continue investing in sustainability and smart-city technology to position Saratoga Springs for the future.
Let’s keep Saratoga moving forward — with smart growth, clean energy, efficient government, and compassion for those in need. I humbly ask for your vote on Row A, the Democratic line, during early voting or on Election Day, November 5.
Incumbent Candidate for Mayor: John Safford (R, One Saratoga)
From his campaign website: John Safford is a veteran, a community leader, and the current Mayor of Saratoga Springs. A longtime resident and public servant, he brought civility back to City Hall and has become a steady, trusted hand in challenging times. With decades of leadership experience in both public and private sectors, Mayor Safford is known for listening, showing up, and getting results — without political theater.
Whether it’s cutting red tape, expanding affordable housing, or supporting local nonprofits and seniors, Mayor Safford is dedicated to building a stronger Saratoga — for everyone.
Candidate for Supervisor: Minita Sanghvi (D, Working Families)
From her campaign website:
Minita Sanghvi has served as the Commissioner of Finance for the last 4 years and is often called the voice of reason on the City Council.
She is a business professor at Skidmore College with an undergrad in accounting, an MBA and a PhD. She served on the Library Board for 5 years, was a founding member of the Human Rights Task Force and also served on the Charter Review Commission in 2016.
She has lived in Saratoga Springs for 11 years with her wife, son and their newly adopted 3 kittens.
As Saratoga Springs Finance Commissioner for two terms, Minita has built bipartisan coalitions to get things done.
– Maintained AA+ credit rating for the city
– Collected 12 years of delinquent taxes
– Opened a third EMS/Fire station and hired 16 new firefighters
– Established a 24/7 homeless shelter
– Added sidewalks, bike lanes, parks, and playgrounds to enhance quality of life
– Increased affordable housing
– Advanced environmental programs such as community compost and urban forestry
– Introduced Participatory Budgeting to fund citizen initiatives, such as pollinator gardens, dog watering station, and children’s literacy bus.
Candidate for Supervisor: George Ehinger (R, One Saratoga)
My name is George Ehinger, and I’m asking for your vote for Saratoga County Supervisor. I’m a 20-plus-year resident, husband and father. I built my career leading businesses across different industries and around the world. I know how to bring people together, solve tough problems and move good ideas forward with clear thinking and measurable results, not ideology.
This year’s race is critical for the city of Saratoga Springs because, for the first time in decades we will be sending 2 new Supervisors to represent us at the county level as neither of the incumbents is seeking re-election. Our strongest, most consistent voice at the county for the past 18 years has been Matt Veitch, a longtime friend who all but hand selected me to run in his place because he knows my collaborative, problem solving approach will work well at the county level.
Phil Barrett, Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors has said of this election “if Saratoga Springs doesn’t replace Matt Veitch with another strong voice that can collaborate with other Supervisors the city will suffer as far as representation.”
In that interview on Saratoga Report Chairman Barrett went on to say—
“When it gets right down to it, it’s all about and being able to develop good ideas, speak to your colleagues, collaborate and come together on a solution. That’s how the Board of Supervisors works and those are the people that we need in office.
“I see George as somebody who understands that very clearly and I think he’ll be a strong voice for Saratoga Springs.”
So, this election, make the best choice for Saratoga Springs—vote for George Ehinger for County Supervisor.
Candidate for Supervisor: Sarah Burger (D, One Saratoga)
As I’ve listened to voters over the last several months, a few issues top their list. First, residents are very concerned about skyrocketing costs. We are feeling the squeeze in all aspects of our lives including National Grid, food and now even our city taxes are going up by an unknown amount with the prospect of essential items being cut, like the funding for the senior center.
Even though I will have no vote on the city budget, I will have one at the county level and as your next Saratoga Springs County supervisor I will fight to keep our taxes low.
City residents have also expressed a strong desire that there be civility in government. Accountability lies with the voters whom I trust to choose the best candidates to represent their interests and vow to work professionally with whomever is elected.
Residents also express deep concern about dealing with homelessness. The County has a mandate to provide a Code blue with a permanent code blue shelter. This past year the county purchased land on Ballston Avenue. The next step for the county is to negotiate a land lease with Shelters of Saratoga. As your next Saratoga Springs County Supervisor, I will advocate that the new building be utilized for more than just code blue. The temporary measures we have now are wholly inadequate, and we need additional county resources.
My candidacy is endorsed by the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee, One Saratoga, the Saratoga Springs Professional Firefighters, the New York League of Conservation Voters, former Mayor and Supervisor Joanne Yepsen, former Mayor and Supervisor AC Riley, among several others. I humbly ask for your vote on November 4. You can find me on Row A or Row E.
The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is kicking off its Love Our Locals $20.25 campaign, an initiative that emphasizes the importance of supporting local businesses and non-profit organizations.
The campaign will begin on Thursday, Oct. 30 and continue throughout the remainder of the year. During this time, residents and tourists who support any business or non-profit in Saratoga County by spending or donating $20.25 or more are eligible to enter a gift card giveaway.
Individuals are encouraged to submit their receipts of $20.25 or more online at www.saratoga.org/love-our-locals to enter. Each week, the Chamber will randomly select winners for $100 in gift cards to businesses across the county.
While the campaign takes place during the holiday shopping season, it is designed to support a wide variety of businesses and organizations from the retail, dining, service, entertainment and non-profit sectors. Donations made to area charitable organizations are also eligible for entry. Spending $20.25 or more at any locally owned Saratoga County business or non-profit gives folks a chance to win in this months-long giveaway campaign with unlimited entries, multiple weekly winners and a variety of gift card prizes!
Now in its fifth year, this campaign started during the pandemic as Save Our Locals $20.21, which resulted in more than 2,000 entries from locals whose purchases directly aided in the county’s economic rebound from COVID-19 restrictions. In 2022, the Save Our Locals program was recognized with a New York State Tourism Excellence Award from the New York State Tourism Industry Association.
Since then, the campaign was renamed Love Our Locals and remains a popular and purposeful annual effort.
“We are proud of how this initiative has grown over the past four years, and we’re thrilled to launch it once again,” said Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. “Love Our Locals was created to energize our local economy and encourage area residents to shop local and donate to local causes as 2025 comes to a close.”
The Veterans Business Council of The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce will host its annual breakfast at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs. This yearly event celebrates area veterans and supports the vital work of the VBC in providing scholarships and career connections for veterans.
The morning of connection and camaraderie will feature recognition of the council’s year-round work along with a keynote address from retired United States Marine Command Sergeant Major Gary Smith, Founder and Chief Consultant of Smith Leadership Consulting Group, which specializes in motivational speaking, executive leadership coaching and workforce leadership development.
Smith is a retired United States Marine Command Sergeant Major with almost three decades of service, seeing and executing leadership from various vantage points both home and abroad including combat tours. He has practical knowledge for coordinating, directing and completing a full range of leadership and management activities in support of different functions within many organizations.
Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in management from Excelsior College and a master’s degree in human resource education from Louisiana State University. He is also a certified professional counselor through the U.S. Department of Labor.
To date, Smith has trained professionals from the federal government, including the U.S. Department of Defense, along with an array of organizations among the private sector.
“The Veterans Business Council annual breakfast is an inspiring morning of connection and camaraderie where we honor the achievements of our scholarship recipients and hear from an exceptional keynote speaker,” said Joseph Juracka, Chair of the Veterans Business Council of The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. “This year, we’re thrilled to welcome Gary Smith, retired U.S. Marine Command Sergeant Major and leadership expert, who will share valuable insights on achieving optimal performance in business and beyond. It’s a rewarding experience for everyone who attends and a wonderful opportunity to show support for those who have served our country.”
The Veterans Business Council of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce invites all who support Veterans to attend this event. Tickets are $45 per person, and proceeds will benefit the programs and mission of the Veterans Business Council. Advance registration is available online at www.saratoga.org/vbc-veterans-breakfast.
The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office has announced that Text-to-911 will be coming to the county over the next 90 days (courtesy of National Emergency Number Association)
The Saratoga County Sheriffs Office today announced the implementation of text-to-911, a vital emergency communication service that allows residents to text message 911 dispatchers when calling is not possible.
Text-to-911 provides deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech-impaired individuals direct access to 911 and can be beneficial when it is unsafe for the caller to speak with telecommunicators. The technology also provides automatic translation for more than 200 languages, allowing both the caller and the telecommunicator to communicate in their primary language.
This new service will improve access to emergency services in Saratoga County and improve response times for those with hearing or speech impairments and non-English-speaking callers.
Officials stress that in an emergency, community members should continue to dial 911 as their first option, following the national guidance: “call if you can, text if you can’t.”
“The ability to text 911 in an emergency when someone may be unable to make a phone call can potentially save many lives and is particularly beneficial for those who are hard of hearing, deaf, or speech impaired,” said Saratoga County Undersheriff Jeffrey Brown. “Not only does implementing this new technology improve service for people with disabilities, but it also helps ensure Saratoga County remains at the forefront of Next Generation 911 technology, as New York State implements the digital system statewide.”
“With the addition of text-to-911 functionality, we are ensuring that every member of our community can access emergency services whenever they need them,” Steven Gordon, Director of Emergency Communications, said. “This technology provides our telecommunicators with an additional tool, helping to ensure they receive critical information when someone cannot make a voice call. The platform allows 911 to send a secure link for callers to share video and photos, providing 911 and first responders with enhanced situational awareness and more accurate information.”
Text-to-911 in Saratoga County is being implemented in collaboration with Disability Rights New York and powered by Prepared, an emergency response platform.
The technology is expected to be fully operational in approximately 90 days, and notifications will be provided to the public as various cell phone providers complete the process.
The MTA’s Metro North Line will be extending up to Albany as the state looks to strengthen the rail link between the Capital Region and Big Apple
The question of where Upstate New York begins just got a little harder as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) extends to Albany.
The extension of the MTA’s Metro North Line comes after three daily trips on the Empire Service were cut due to track repairs. In addition to the MTA extension, Amtrak is bringing back one of the round trips cut and capping costs to riders.
The new changes were announced Oct. 20 by New York State, Amtrak and the MTA. Starting Dec. 1, 2025, Amtrak trains 235 and 238 will restart service with the MTA service starting in spring 2026 following non-passenger tests in late 2025.
The MTA line will run a round-trip service that will connect Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan and Albany-Rensselaer Station in Rensselaer. While the Metro-North Line has never extended to the Capital Region, its predecessor, the New York Central Railroad’s Hudson line, ran service between Grand Central and Albany until 1967.
“Restoring Amtrak service and debuting Metro-North service to Albany is a huge win for riders,” Governor Cathy Hochul said. “While Amtrak’s repairs to the East River Tunnels are necessary, riders from Albany to New York City have had to endure sold out trains and higher fares for the past five months. I’ve been clear from the moment this plan was proposed that New Yorkers deserve better. This new plan will provide more travel options and lower fares for over two million annual riders, saving them time and putting money back in their pockets.”
The service changes come after Amtrak had to cut service in order to repair the East River Tunnels that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy. The reduced service started in May — leading to increased ticket prices and crowded trains. To combat this, Amtrak is also set to cap economy service between Albany and NYC at $99.
Beyond just increasing service to NYC, service to Boston will improve as starting Dec. 1 direct rail service between Boston and Albany will be restored after having to run using a connecting bus.
“New York State residents’ and visitors’ passion and patience are paying off, as additional, affordable, and improved train service between New York City and Albany is on its way,” Amtrak President Roger Harris said. “Thanks to Governor Hochul for her leadership and commitment to New York State, and NYSDOT and MTA for their partnership in helping meet the high demand of train service we have throughout the state.”
As to whether this change will impact the definition of where Upstate New York begins, the Governor’s Office was quick to dispel any discussion of it.
“UPSTATE BEGINS NORTH OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY AS IT ALWAYS HAS,” the Governor’s Press Office posted on X in response to a post by a reporter discussing the matter.
The City of Saratoga Springs paved 36 streets this year — up from 17 in 2024. (Courtesy of DPW)
City of Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Works Chuck Marshall announced today that DPW doubled its paving effort in 2025 when compared to 2024.
Under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner Tad Roemer, with support of the streets and highway working supervisors the DPW paved 36 street or street sections in 2025, representing a 111% increase when compared to 2024 when 17 streets were addressed. The department also utilized more material in 2025, where 15,178 tons of asphalt was disbursed to fix roads compared to 9,575 tons in 2024.
The paving program consisted of 12 weeks of paving starting April 8th and concluding on September 25th.
“This was an incredible year of paving for the City and I want to recognize the planning efforts of Deputy Roemer, the leadership of the Working Supervisors Ray Green, Dave Kenyon, JJ Nichols, and Tom McGraw, along with the dedication of the DPW workforce in completing this outstanding work,” said Marshall.
The paving season presented additional challenges for the department in 2025 including the July 4th racing festival, the Belmont Stakes Festival, multiple National Grid service line replacements, and additional racing days that required heightened coordination in a condensed paving season. With all the street work and construction that occurred in 2025, Marshall recognized the need to limit disruptions for the business community for next year.
“We also planned for next year by completing a final stretch of Broadway and a long section of Ballston Ave to limit disruptions in 2026 with paving and shutdowns,” Marshall continued, “everyone benefits and safety improves with well maintained roads, I credit the DPW team with working very hard this year to provide this for the community.”
All paving during 2025 was completed utilizing the DPW workforce and will be reimbursed through the NYSDOT CHIPs program.
The K-9 identified as “J” reportedly found 18 pounds of drugs in Saratoga Springs ( New York State Police)
The New York State Police have announced a major drug bust in Saratoga Springs.
Joseph Warren, 43, of Playa Del Carmen, Mexico was arrested for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first, second and third degree as well as traffic violations.
Warren was allegedly stopped on Interstate 87 in Saratoga Springs for traffic violations; during the stop, several vacuum sealed packages were located in the vehicle by a State Police K-9 named “J.”
In total, 18 pounds were found by the Troopers with 16 of them being comprised of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) also known as Molly or Ecstasy. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, MDMA is a synthetic drug similar to methamphetamine that is sometimes considered a psychedelic drug as it can mildly alter perception of time and vision.
The other two pounds were Fluorofentanyl (fentanyl). Fentanyl is powerful synthetic opioid used in treatment of severe chronic pain — like that which comes from cancer treatments, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. It is highly dangerous with mere milligrams potentially causing an overdose and is sometimes mixed with other illicit drugs without the user’s knowledge.
Warren was processed at the State Police Station in Saratoga and arranged at the Saratoga Springs City Court. He is currently being held without bail at the County Correctional Facility. According to State Police, the investigation is ongoing.
The STELLA or Storm Emergency Linkable Lifesaving Apparatus is a new recue sled developed by Milton resident Dan Tuller (Aidan Cahill)
A Milton-based first responder has unveiled a new vehicle for carrying out winter rescues.
The Storm Emergency Linkable Lifesaving Apparatus or STELLA for short is a snow rescue sled designed by Dan Tuller — a former safety officer and volunteer fire fighter in the Town of Milton.
Tuller was joined by local responders and elected officials at an event unveiling the new vehicle in Milton on Oct. 21. The new vehicle is a towable sled which is designed to assist in evacuations and emergency response during harsh winter conditions. It has capacity for eight people and can accommodate a full-size stretcher if need be — along with other emergency implements.
Tuller said the idea for the sled came to him after seeing how emergency responders in Buffalo found themselves unable to answer calls due to an extreme winter storm in Dec. 2022. This storm killed 47 people region-wide with 31 of those deaths occurring in Buffalo alone.
After the storm, Tuller said he looked at the market and realized there wasn’t a rescue sled that could transport more than one or two people. In addition, these sleds would be exposed to the elements.
“The first responders faced unprecedented challenges leading to periods where emergency response was effectively halted because vehicles and crews could not reach those in need, and often the rescuers required rescue themselves,” Tuller said. “As a father, a husband and a son, I was shocked to consider that weather, an archaic and annual experience could still have such a tragic impact in a modern society.”
The STELLA is heated, insulated, has GPS capabilities and is equipped with solar panels for power. It can be towed by any vehicle that can support its weight. (Aidan Cahill)
Tuller said it took him and those he worked with only seven months to build the first prototype and that the sled is patent pending. He also said that the sled is modular depending on the end users’ needs.
According to Tuller, the skis of the sled can be swapped for wheels, the inside can be reconfigured for different patients, the hitch can be swapped to be towed by different vehicles, and multiple sleds can be linked together and towed. He also said that the vehicle “rides like a Cadilac” owing to the suspension coming from a Cadilac Escalade SUV.
Tuller’s product received high praise from several elected officials including State Senator James Tedisco who said he planned on taking the design to several government agencies and Milton Town Supervisor Scott Ostrander who called the device a “game changer.”
“People’s lives are at stake, and this right here is going to save people’s lives,” Ostrander said. “Dan, I can’t say enough, this is a game changer for us as a community.”
In terms of cost, Tuller said he anticipates the STELLA will cost around $100,000 but that he expects that departments will be able to get the funds to purchase through grants and other outside funding.
As for the orange color of the STELLA, Tuller said that it came from a discussion he had with a first responder in Buffalo who suggested it in order to stand out against the snow.
The name “STELLA” in addition to being an acronym was also used to honor his cat who died of breast cancer shortly before he started designing the sled.
Hess was arrested by U.S. Marshalls in a hotel in Pennsylvania (Courtesy of U.S. Marshalls)
A Frankfort man who stole a purse and ran over 76-year-old woman in Ballston Spa has been captured in Pennsylvania.
Joseph Hess, 32, of Frankfort NY allegedly stole a pocketbook from the back seat of a car at McDonalds on Church Street in the Town of Ballston. When confronted by the robbery victim — a 76-year-old woman — he ran back to his vehicle and attempted to flee the scene, hitting the woman in the process.
The incident occurred on Oct. 16 at around 6:45 p.m. The victim was transported to Albany Medical Center and treated for compound leg fractures where she has remained since the incident.
After a five-day manhunt, Hess was located on the morning of Oct. 21 in a hotel in Tinicum Township, PA — a small town southwest of Philadelphia next to the airport. He was arrested by U.S. Marshalls and is currently being held in Delaware County awaiting extradition back to Saratoga.
“I am incredibly proud of our investigators who worked tirelessly to locate Hess,” said Sheriff Michael H. Zurlo. “I am grateful and relieved that he is off the streets and pray that justice will be served for the innocent victim.”
At the time of the incident, Hess’s vehicle had been reported stolen from Colonie. It was subsequently abandoned behind Mabey’s Moving and Storage on Route 67 with Hess seen fleeing into the woods, according to the Sherriff’s Office.
Hess was also wanted in Frankfurt on weapons charges.
The incident and subsequent manhunt caused concerns for the nearby Ballston Spa Central School District. Prior to the start of school, the Saratoga County Sherriff’s Office searched school buildings to ensure Hess wasn’t inside, according to Ballston Spa Mayor Frank Rossi. In addition to the search, the school was also placed on a state of “Secure Lockdown.”
These concerns didn’t extend to that night’s homecoming football game as it went off without a hitch and resulted in Ballston Spa beating Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 20-13.
As for Hess, he currently faces charges of assault in the 1st degree and robbery in the 1st degree — both of them class B felonies.
